Southill Park House

Southill Park House is a country house with 17th-century origins, substantially altered in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was originally altered in the earlier 18th century, probably by Isaac Ware, for the Byng family, with the addition of wings and pavilions to the west and east. Samuel Whitbread I, a brewery founder and Member of Parliament, purchased the house in 1795, and it was extensively remodelled between 1795 and 1800 for Samuel Whitbread II by Henry Holland. Holland reworked the central block and outer pavilions, and rebuilt the linking wings.

The house is constructed of Portland and Totternhoe stone, with slate roofs. The central block is three storeys and attics, with slightly projecting pedimented bays to the north and south. This block is linked to two-storey pedimented pavilions to the west and east by single-storey ranges with attics. A basement runs the entire length of the building and is lit from the north.

The north front is relatively plain. The ground floor of the central block and both floors of the side pavilions are rusticated, while the remainder is in smooth ashlar. The window arrangement is 3:4:1:3:1:4:3, with original sash windows, most of which have been replaced with plate glass casements. The only visible front entrance is an inconspicuous door in the west bay of the central block, although a single-storey canted bay window is centrally located on the middle bay. A porte-cochere was added in the late 19th century at the west end, becoming the main entrance. A balustrade along the basement well shields the basement from view. To the east is a two-storey service wing of white brick with a slate roof, containing a two-window range with Venetian windows at each end and sash windows with glazing bars in between.

The south garden front has a similar arrangement of rustication. The fenestration is arranged 3:3:1:3:1:3:3, again mostly with later casements, though some original sashes with glazing bars remain to the ground floor of the main block and link wings. A portico with paired Ionic columns and balustrades adorns the central bay of the main block, with a loggia to the link wings. To the east end is a late 19th-century orangery of red brick, with stone pilasters separating six tall mullion and transom windows and a hipped glass roof. The eaves cornice is surmounted by stone urns.

The interior retains much of Holland's original decoration. The hall contains plaster relief sopraportes by George Garrard, while the drawing room and boudoir contain paintings by Sawrey Gilpin. A painted ceiling in the boudoir, along with other panels, are the work of A.L. Delabriére.